Why do devices so easily distract people?

The human brain evolved in an environment when there was much less information. Any potential information could be helpful … a rustling [of grass] could be a tiger.

We are in a very different environment than the one we evolved in. Our brains weren’t designed for all this information. Yet our brains want to seek out all this information even though it is maladaptive.

Why is multitasking a problem?

Our brain has a very limited bandwidth to process new information. It can handle a very small number of thoughts at one time.

We are only good at doing one thing at a time. But we are switching back and forth. It takes time for our brain to change from one task to another.

Switch cost is when it takes your brain a short while … to realign for a new task.

Your brain has to backtrack and figure out where it was in the first place.

Why do we think we are better at multitasking than we really are?

It is a huge rationalization fest. People aren’t good at multitasking.

People who think they are the best at multitasking, they are actually the worst. People can’t help but multitask and are distracted by devices and screens. They can’t help themselves and rationalize to themselves that they are good at it.

What are some ways to combat digital distractions?

You can’t rely on your own willpower to focus because of the brain’s thirst for knowledge.

Devote a period of time when you are turning off the Internet. You have to plan ahead to remove distractions and focus.

Focus on one thing at a time. If I am writing a paper and working and I am checking my email every minute, I am incurring a switch cost every minute.